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1 Observations from Action Research and Programming with Conflict-Affected Populations [1] (2024)

handle is hein.unl/obnfmanrh0001 and id is 1 raw text is: INVEST IN ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL POPULATIONS BEFORE YOU NEED TO ENGAGE - ESPECIALLY THOSE OFTEN LEFT OUT OF IMPORTANT POLICY DISCUSSIONS The culture of discussion and the necessary linguistic frames may not exist. Young people and women may not be used to being asked their opinions. The way UN agencies think about these issues - reintegration, disarmament, prevention - may not map onto the way they are understood and conceptualized at the local level. Now that Localisation is a key focus of international humanitarian, peace, and development agendas, the international community needs to invest more in laying the groundwork before a pressing need for engagement arises. In conflict-affected spaces, this is often more challenging because of the erosion of social cohesion and civil society, population movements, and insecurity. Investing in 'groundwork' in these settings would promote more meaningful UN engagement, consultation, and partnership. !OACHES TO PREVENTION NEED TO BE HOLISTIC :tors that contribute to conflict vulnerability are interwoven, and the fact the ional community has chosen to divide up certain policy issues into silos (e.g., arian, development, and peace) doesn't change their interdependence. Issues iting to conflict are multifaceted and cannot be removed from their wider historical, and political roots. For example, the confluence of climate change, state weakness lanagement, displacement, and unemployment (particularly for youth in countries ith bulges) can interact in a way that can tip states into conflict. To be successful, on efforts need to contextualize issues 'in the round' and address causes in a multi- way. This includes recognizing that people are impacted by certain factors tly. As MEAC's research has found, certain factors (e.g., education, economic ns) impact the likelihood of armed group involvement of boys, girls, women, and different degrees and in different ways. This reality means that prevention needs to be holistic but also tailored to the specific needs of different populations PREVENTION EFFORTS NEED TO BE EVIDENCE-BASED It is extremely difficult to say with confidence what works when it comes to prevention (so beware of bold claims!) But it is essential to ensure that prevention efforts are grounded in empirical evidence, based on sound and well-interrogated assumptions, and rigorously assessed to ensure they do no harm. This requires greater investment in action research as part of the programming process. While multi-method research is the gold standard, the international community needs to go beyond quantitative and qualitative work to include other approaches, specifically participatory research. Participatory methods help ensure faulty assumptions don't drive research and provide the opportunity to co-design policy recommendations that resonate locally. Participatory research requires funding, time and a leap of faith to incorporate, especially given the current focus on quantitative data. CTIVE PREVENTION DOESN'T START WITH ONE-YEAR, -MINUTE, AND INCONSISTENT BUDGET ALLOCATIONS short-term funding cycles for humanitarian, peacebuilding, and conflict response e not bringing about the longer-term shift needed to sustainablv build neace and